Bottom dumping material handling box



April 9, 1957 R. c. JoHNsoN BOTTOM DUMPING MATERIAL HANDLING BOX s sheets-'sheet 1 Filed June '7, 1954 El. A

n M mw m@ WH m0 N 4 @Mm ,r la .MA IIIIIIIIIIIU. r haw .M w K 6 l2 April 9, 1957 R. c. JOHNSON BoTToM DUMPTNG MATERIAL HANDLING Box 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June '7, 1954 INVENTOR. Richard C. Johnson EL. E..

ATTORNEY 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 R. C. JOHNSON BOTTOM DUMPING MATERIAL HANDLING BOX 9 A r nv /f 3 DDDAV 2 b .kw 9

April 9, 1957 Filed Jne 7, 1954 3 2 I 2 M Y y M. ,w 2 2 5 2 Z norroM nUMrlNG MATERIAL HANDLING Box Richard C. Johnson, Hubbard, Ohio, assignor to The Powell Pressed Steel Company, Hubbard, Ohio, a corporation .of Uhio Application .lune 7, 1954, Serial No. 434,749 7 Claims. (Cl. 214-317) rhis invention relates to a novel bottom dumping material handling box adapted to be carried by a fork lift truck.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of an improved bottom dumping material handling box for fork lift trucks which may be dumped by elevating the box with respect to the lift element of the fork lift truck to permit a self-opening action on the part of the bottom dumping material handling box.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel and improved bottom dumping box which is adapted for use with a standard fork lift truck without requiring modifications to the truck.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a bottom dumping box in which the bottom portion is lowered and the box is simultaneously raised to provide a maximum opening for discharging the contents of the box.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved bottom dumping box adapted to be used with a fork lift truck in which the box is carried adjacent to the truck and which requires a minimum amount of room for the dumping operation.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved dumping bottom box adapted to be dumped from a lifted position on a fork lift truck in a minimum amount of space and a maximum amount of control as to the location of the dumped contents of the box.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a novel bottom dumping box adapted to be hinged to a material carrying platform in such manner that in closed position the platform serves as the bottom of the box and in open position the platform serves as a chute for unloading material from the box.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved bottom dumping box in which the bottom is dumped by elevating the box with respect to the fork lifting element without resulting in jamming the lifting element against the bottom and thereby avoid damaging said bottom dumping box.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a novel bottom dumping box for lift trucks which is simple, compact and inexpensive in construction and which is adapted for use with any standard type of fork lift truck and which is quickly and easily unloaded.

The bottom dumping material handling box disclosed herein is of the general type commonly used in industrial plants for transporting small parts or loose materials and for dumping the parts or materials at desired locations. Such material handling boxes are normally transported and actuated by powered fork lift trucks in which a fork and a box hanger are mounted for independent vertical movement along a mast and by means of which fork and hanger the box may be picked up, elevated and dumped.

Such boxes have generally comprised material supportited States Patent ateted APL 9,

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. 2 ing platforms of an inverted U shape, the arms of the Us forming depending skids supporting the platform in elevated relation toa supporting surface and providing space between the material supporting platform and the supporting surface for the entry of the forks or lifting element of the truck.

Prior material handling box constructions have included bottom portions hinged to an open bottom box adjacent the rear edge of the bottom portion of the box so that when the box is elevated on a fork lift truck and secured to a movable hanger on the mast of the truck and the movable hanger elevated, the bottom will swing open with respect to the box and thereby dump the contents.

Some prior box constructions have included depending flanges adjacent the front edge bottom portion of the box so that the forward tips of the fork of the truck handling the box could be engaged thereagainst and the box and bottom opened outwardly by carefully elevating the hanger to which the box is attached so as to engage the tips of the fork against the flange. Such construc tions have a tendency to place undue strain on the box and particularly the hinged portions thereof as it is difiicult for the operator of the power lift truck to obtain the precise control necessary.

The present invention relates to an improved form of material handling box and hinged bottom wherein the box is self-opening at such time as the box is elevated with respect to the fork supporting the bottom in such manner that a lever-like action results forcing the box to swing upwardly and outwardly from the bottom as the rear edge portion of the bottom swings inwardly against the mast. The described action results from projecting the bottom of the box beyond the rear side thereof and pivoting the bottom to the box at points well A above the bottom and substantially above the lower portion of the box.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being the intention to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of-the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation showing the improved box construction.

Figure 2 is an end elevation showing the pivoting means hinging the bottom to the box.

Figure 3 is a side elevation with parts broken away illustrating the box in partially opened position in connection with the mast and forks of a lift truck.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of `a fork lift truck showing the improved bottom dumping box in dumping position thereon.

By referring to the drawings and Figures l and 2 in particular it will be seen that the bottom dumping box construction in its preferred form comprises a rectangular platform 10 of upright channel or U shape, the sides being indicated by the numeral 11-11 and the platform 10 being positioned on and secured to a transversely corrugated inverted channel or inverted U shape l2, the downturned sides 13-13 of which form legs supporting the platform 10.

The edges of the downturned sides 13-13 forming the legs are provided with U-shaped channels 14'14 so that the legs form suitable skids. The downturned sides 13,-13 also position the platform 10 suiciently 3 above a supporting surface, for example, a factory oor, so that the forks of a fork lift truck may be positioned therebeneath and the bottom dump box picked up and transported thereby. Y

The upturned sides 11 of the platform 10 are relatively high and define with the platform a chute when the bottom is swung open with respect to the lower open portion of a box 15 to which the `platform 10 is pivoted, as best shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

The box 15 is of generally rectangular shape shorter than said platform and includes side walls and end walls preferably formed of corrugated steel, the box being open at its upper end 16 and its lower end 17. An inverted U-shaped hook 18 is attached to one end of the box 15, as best shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, and forms means by which the box 15 may be suspended on a vertically movable hanger 19 on the mast of a fork lift truck such as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

The box 15 also has a pair of pivot members 20-20 secured to the end thereof on which the hook 18 is positioned. The pivot members 20-20 extend outwardly beyond the sides of the box 15 and engage openings in the upturned sides 11-11 of the platform 10. Supporting brackets 21-21 are secured to the box 15 and positioned on the pivot members 20-20 adjacent the opposite sides of the upturned sides 11--11 of the platform 10 and the outer ends of the pivot members 20-20 are headed as at 22-22.

It will thus be seen that the platform 10 is pivotally attached to the box 15 through the pivot members 20-20 and the upturned sides 11-11 of the platform 10 and at points well above the platform 10 and adjacent the rear end wall of the box 15 so that the box 15 is positioned on the platform 10 forwardly of the rear edge thereof.

Still referring to Figures l and 2 of the drawings it will be seen that the pivot members 20-20 are thus offset outwardly with respect to the rear end wall of the box 15 so that the point of pivotal attachment of the platform 10 is actually adjacent the rear end wall of the box 15 rather than therebeneath as has heretofore been common in the art.

It will also be seen that the pivot members 20-20 are positioned only slightly below the horizontal center line of the box 15 so that the box 15 will swing upwardly and outwardly away from the platform 10 when it is opened, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The box 15 is provided with nesting lugs 23-23 on its uppermost edge so that a plurality of the boxes may be positioned one on the other and be self-retaining in such relation.

By referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings it will be seen that a mast 24 of a fork lift truck is partially illustrated and carries the vertically movable hanger 19 near the upper end thereof as well as a vertical movable fork lifting element 25. It will also be seen that the box 15 has been elevated by the fork element 25 to a desired height and the vertically movable hanger 19 elevated to engage the hook 18 and further elevate the box 15 to partially open the same.

The action resulting from elevating the box 15 with respect to the fork lifting element 25 comprises the opening of the platform 10 downwardly and away from the box 15 pivoting on the pivot members Ztl-20, one end thereof engaging the mast 24 and acting as a lever tilting the box 15 outwardly and upwardly as the platform 10 tilts downwardly. The projecting rear end of the platform 10 that engages the mast 24 is preferably provided with a reinforcing abutment 26 so -that the weight of the platform 1t) which forms the bottom of the box 15 and the material in the box 15 resting on the platform 10 will not damage the end of the platform l() when it engages the mast 24.

Those skilled in the art will observe that the platform 10 forms a lever fulcrumed .on the projecting abutment 26 resting on the mast 24 and acting against the pivot members 20-20 which are secured to the box 15 well above its open bottom. Self-opening operation of the material handling box is thus obtained without dependence upon any mechanical contrivances or any particular positioning of the fork lifting element 25 with respect to the platform 10.

It will thus occur t0 those skilled in the art that an unskilled operator can pick up the box disclosed herein with the fork lift truck, elevate it to secure the hook 1S on the hanger 19 and then further elevate the hanger 19 to open the box and that any desired degree of opening of the box can be obtained by corresponding positioning of the hanger 19 regardless of the size, shape and point of engagement of the fork with the platform 10. As the device -is not dependent upon the positioning of the fork lifting element 25, no damage results to the box as the same merely slides therealong.

By referring now to Figure 4 of the drawings, the bottom dumping material handling box may be seen in elevated dumping position with respect to a fork lift truck which is generally indicated by the numeral 27 and specifically with respect to the mast 24. The mast 24 of the fork lift truck 27 includes the fork lifting element 25, the hanger 19 and conventional means 28 for moving the same vertically on the mast 24.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the bottom dumping material handling box disclosed herein may thus be effectively handled by any fork lift truck and the contents of the material handling box dumped at a desired location by either elevating the box 15 or lowering the fork lifting element 25 on the mast 24 to progressively permit the self-opening bottom formed by the platform 10 to assume a desired right angular chute with respect to the box 15.

It will be seen that the sole function of the fork lifting element 25 is to support the platform 10 of the box and elevate the same for securing the hook 18 on the hanger 19 of the fork lift truck prior to a dumping operation.

In the dumping operation, the box is elevated by the hanger 19 and the resulting lever action of the projecting platform 10 against the mast 24 opens the box 15 with respect to the platform 10. The flow of the contents from the box is thus under the control of the operator as the right angular relation of the platform 10 with respect to the box 15 changes as the hanger 19 lifts the box 15 `upwardly with respect to the fork lifting element 25.

It will thus be seen that the several objects of the invention are met by the bottom dumping material handling box disclosed herein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. Bottom dumping box construction for use with a fork lift truck having a mast with a lifting element and a hanger movable thereon, and including a platform forming the bottom of the box and adapted for resting on said lifting element, upstanding members on the sides of said platform and an open bottom box relatively smaller than said platform positioned on said platform forwardly of the rear edge thereof, hinge means connecting the uppermost portions of said upstanding members of said platform to the rear side of the box above the bottom thereof in offset relation thereto and a hook secured to the rear side of the box near the top edge thereof for hanging the box in elevated position on said hanger whereby raising the hanger will permit the rear edge of the platform to engage the mast as a fulcrum and move the box outwardly and upwardly as the platform tilts downwardly and inwardly.

2. The bottom dumping box construction set forth in `claim 1 and further characterized by the formation of said upstanding members on the sides of said platform as longitudinally extending side walls of a height equal to half the height of said box and defining guide means for material on said platform when said box is elevated.

3. The bottom dumping box construction set forth in claim l and wherein said platform includes a base having downturned legs normally supporting said platform in elevated relation to a supporting surface and permitting said lifting element to freely move beneath said platform.

4. Bottom dumping box construction for use with a fork lift truck having a mast and a lifting element and a vertically movable hanger thereon, including an elongated platform of upright channel or U shape forming the bottom of the box and adapted for resting on said lifting element, an abutment member on the rear edge of said platform for abutting said mast, a box having open top and bottom portions positioned on said platform forwardly of said abutment member and rear edge of said platform, pivot members on a rear wall of said box substantially above the open bottom portion thereof and extending sidewardly and engaged in openings in the uppermost portions of said upright channel or U-shaped platform, means for supporting the top rear edge of said box on said hanger whereby elevating said hanger will permit said abutment member on the rear edge of said platform to abut said mast as the box moves upwardly to move said pivot members and box outwardly in corresponding degree.

5. Bottom dumping box construction for use with a fork lift truck having a mast and a lifting element and a hanger movable vertically thereon, including a material carrying platform forming the bottom of the box and adapted to be raised by said lifting element, a rectangular box having open upper and lower ends supported on said platform forwardly of the rear edge thereof, said platform being of greater length than said box, guide walls on the opposite sides of said platform extending upwardly alongside said box half-way to the open top thereof, pivot means hinging the upper rear corners of said guide walls to the rear side corners of said box substantially midway between the open top and bottom thereof, an oiset hook on said box at the top rear edge thereof for supporting said box on said hanger, the rear edge of said platform extending rearwardly beyond the rear side of said box for abutting said mast when said box and platform are lifted with respect to said lifting element.

6. Bottom dumping box construction for use with a fork lift truck having a mast, a hanger on said mast and a lifting element movable vertically on said mast, said box construction including a platform having legs supporting the same above a supporting surface for receiving said lifting element thereunder, a four-sided open top and bottom box on said platform forwardly of the rear edge thereof, guide walls on opposite sides of said platform extending upwardly outside of said box substantially half-way to the top of said box, pivotal connections between points on the rear wall of the box midway between its top and bottom edges and the upper rear corners of said side walls, a rearwardly projecting hook on the upper rear edge of said box for separable engagement with said hanger, whereby the projecting rear edge of said platform will abut said mast when said hanger is elevated with respect to said lifting element and the platform and guide walls will pivot on said point of abutment to move said pivotal connections between said box and guide walls away from said mast to tilt the box upwardly and outwardly and the platform downwardly and inwardly.

7. Bottom dumping box construction for use with a fork lift truck having a mast, a hanger on said mast and a lifting element movable vertically on said mast belowA said hanger, said box construction including an elongated rectangular platform having legs supporting the same above a supporting surface for receiving said lifting element thereunder, a four-sided rectangular open top and bottom box of lesser length and width than said platform carried on said platform, guide walls on opposite sides of said platform and extending upwardly outside of said box at least half-way to the top of said box, pivotal connections between the box and side guide walls at the upper rear corners of said side walls and offset rearwardly of the 4rear side of said box, a rearwardly offset hook on the upper rear edge of said box for separable engagement with said hanger, an abutment member on the rear edge of said platform, said rear edge and abutment member extending outwardly beyond the rear side of said box and forming a transverse projection engaging said mast when said hanger and box are elevated and -acting to move said box outwardly and upwardly in a pivoting action on said pivotal connections as said platform tilts downwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,445,038 Riemenschneider et al. July 13, 1948 2,678,743 Backofen et al May 18, 1954 2,708,043 Streb et al. May 10, 1955 

